Partition sheet to side sheet connection for covered hopper cars

Abstract

A covered railway hopper car includes a plurality of vertical partition sheets connected to the side walls of the car to form a plurality of hoppers. The connection of the vertical edges of the partition sheets to the inner surfaces of the side walls includes vertical posts of a cross-sectional configuration reducing stress concentration of the partition to prevent fracture.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A railway hopper car including a car body having transversely spaced vertical side sheets, a plurality of diagonally extending slope sheets connected to said side sheets and forming a plurality of hoppers having lower discharge openings, and a plurality of partition sheets having laterally spaced vertical side portions for compartmentalizing said hoppers, the improvement comprising;   means for connecting each side portion of each partition sheet to said side sheets within said car,   said vertical side portions spaced from said side sheet,   said means including a post connected to a side sheet and extending vertically therewith,   said post having an outwardly extending leg,   said vertical side portions being rigidly connected with said legs, and   said means for connecting enhancing side sheet rotation upon loading of said partition sheet thereby reducing fatigue fractures in said side sheet to partition sheet connection.   
     
     
       2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said post including a base rigidly connected to said side sheet within said car, and   said outwardly extending leg being generally perpendicular to said base and extending from one end of said base.   
     
     
       3. The invention in accordance with claim 2, said partition sheet including opposite vertical end portions overlapping end portions of said outwardly extending leg and being rigidly affixed thereto.   
     
     
       4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said post including a base rigidly connected to said side sheet within said car and   said outwardly extending leg being generally perpendicular to said base and extending intermediate the ends of the base.   
     
     
       5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said partition sheet end portions abutting the end portions of said outwardly extending legs and being rigidly affixed thereto.   
     
     
       6. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said post being of T-shaped configuration and being torsionally flexible.   
     
     
       7. A railway hopper car including a car body having transversely spaced vertical side sheets, a plurality of diagonally extending slope sheets connected to said side sheets and forming a plurality of hoppers having lower discharge openings, and a plurality of partition sheets having laterally spaced vertical side portions for compartmentalizing said hoppers, the improvement comprising;   means for connecting each side portion of each partition sheet to said side sheets of said car,   torsionally resistant hat shaped vertical side posts rigidly connected to said side sheets and extending vertically therewithin externally of said car,   said hat shaped side posts being situated fore and aft of said means for connecting longitudinally of said car and   said means including a metal plate member substantially vertically coextensive with said side sheet and connected adjacent to said side portion of said partition sheet whereby rotation of said side sheet is facilitated thereby reducing stress concentrations in said partition sheet to side sheet connections.   
     
     
       8. The invention in accordance with claim 7, said metal plate member being a flat plate external of said car and forming a T with said partition sheet at its connection with said side sheet.   
     
     
       9. The invention in accordance with claim 7, said vertical side portions spaced from said side sheet, and   said metal plate member being an angle plate connected within said car between said partition sheet and said side sheet.   
     
     
       10. The invention in accordance with claim 9, said angle plate including a first flange rigidly connected to said side sheet, and   a second flange connected to one end of said first flange and extending generally at right angles therefrom.   
     
     
       11. The invention in accordance with claim 10, said side portion of said partition sheet overlapping and being rigidly affixed to said second flange.   
     
     
       12. The invention in accordance with claim 7, said vertical side portions spaced from said side sheet, and   said metal plate member being a T shaped plate connected within said car between said partition sheet and said side sheet.   
     
     
       13. The invention in accordance with claim 12, said T shaped plate including a first flange rigidly connected with said side sheet, and   a second flange connected intermediate the ends of said first flange and extending generally at right angles therefrom and including a generally vertical end portion.   
     
     
       14. The invention in accordance with claim 13, said side portion of said partition sheet having opposite generally vertical end portions abutting and rigidly connected to said generally vertical end portion of said second flange.